Northern Soul

David is famously known for his Wigan Casino and Northern Soul paintings. As a teenager, he was a regular at Wigan Casino. David created a series of paintings that depict the Northern Soul Scene of the late 1970s. Likened to Dickens with London times and like Lowry’s mill scenes, he created a unique atmospheric vibe of then and now and was proclaimed by The Wigan Observer as the ‘Degas of Northern Soul’. 

Northern Soul dancers

These pictures have become popular and his work is now widely collected around the world. Original paintings are owned by: Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene, The University of Music USA and the Tamla Motown Museum in Detroit USA.

Russ Winstanly, Dean Parish, David Barrow

Exhibitions:

  • The Manchester Academy of Fine Arts
  • The Royal Scottish Academy
  • The Royal Academy, London
  • Salford Art Gallery
  • The Mall Galleries, London
  • The Royal Society of portrait Painters
  • Newcastle City Art Gallery
  • The O2 Arena London
  • Turn Pike Gallery
  • Salisbury Art Gallery
  • The Grand Arcade, Wigan

Wigan Casino

Comission: Ocean Colour Scene “Live at the Jam House” album cover by David Barrow MAFA.

Ocean Colour Scene, “Live at the Jam House’.

Comission: “Soul Boy” David Barrow’s pencilled artwork and drawings are featured throughout the movie.

“Soul boy”

The Mod collection

This collection has been inspired by David’s fascination with the Mod culture from his youth and another nod to the 1970s culture. Both northern soulies and mods are still very much going strong today.

For Trevor

A commission from a photograph, now in Utah, USA.